4/1/51

Scripture: Luke 24: 13-35.

Church membership in our country is at an all time high -- not nearly high enough, since only a few more than half the population are even affiliated with any church, let alone attend the worship services and activities of a church. But there are more church members now than even before in the history of this country. But still there are those who claim that religion breaks down. Possibly it does appear to be so here and there, in the lives of some people. But that is usually illusory. What breaks down is preconceived ideas, prejudices, selfish philosophies, home made theories.

There is a vast difference between a concept and reality itself. A concept may, and usually does, keep changing, growing, as new experience and understanding is added to one’s life. The reality is unchanging, but one’s understanding, or lack of understanding, of it changes.

Real religion -- experimental knowledge and worship of God -- is as vital as ever. And when someone speaks of communion with the risen Christ, you may know that he is living a Spirit-directed life, with a heart consecrated to Christ as a great reality. The quiet, faithful testimony of those who proclaim such a reality is well worth hearing.

Last Sunday, I mentioned the simple, assured testimony of Judge Medina, who stated that it was a direct spiritual answer to prayer that got him successfully through the trial of the communists held in his court. The Judge’s spiritual experience became a recognized reality in his own life. The reason why some have their doubts about the reality of God and about the power of the risen, living Christ, is that they have not recognized the Lord’s reality.

The gospel, as told by Luke, preserves for us the story of two men walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus on the third day after Jesus was put to death on a cross. They had plenty of time to think, and to talk, as they walked along. And much of their conversation naturally fell to the solemn events of the past week. As they walked they were joined by a third party who also fell in with the conversation. The two seem to have been so occupied with their own thoughts that they did not recognize the stranger. When he asked questions about the matter they discussed, they went on the explain, as to a total stranger, what had happened at Jerusalem on Friday. And the conversation gave away their own feeling that a great hope had failed. They spoke of their earlier hope that the man who had died so ignominiously was the one to save, or redeem, Israel from its woes. But their tone made it clear that they now considered it a dead hope.

The stranger was familiar with the sacred writings of the Jewish people, and spoke of a number of things that appear in the Scripture which might throw light on the situation they were discussing. When they arrived, toward evening, at the village, the two invited the stranger to spend the night with them. While they were at super, something about the way the stranger broke bread, and blessed it and shared it, reminded them of Jesus as he was before the crucifixion.

The story says that “their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight.” But not out of their understanding! For in that experience, they learned something new. There is a presence that can be recognized and experienced in the lives of those who will welcome it.

Now suppose you think this may be so -- that every government worker, every soldier, every politician, every craftsman, every housewife, every nurse and doctor and merchant and lawyer and farmer and policeman can discover the presence of Christ for himself; -- what is the significance of such a discovery for oneself? Simply this -- that life’s difficulties, frustrations and heady triumphs do not have to be faced alone! There is a appalling number of people who live with too great a burden of importance on their shoulders. When the load of eagerness or anxiety gets too heavy to bear, they seek to escape it for a while in various kinds of relaxation with others, in drink, with drugs, or in some kind of change that might enable one to forget the burden for a while.

The most realistic way to face our burdens is to do so in the company of Christ. In him is the kind of company that does not have to run away. In him is the strength that makes one adequate for the day. And he takes up the burden of what we cannot accomplish. But let us think a little more about the presence of Christ. The clue to the selection of Jesus’ disciples is that they were to be with him. That was the beginning of their development and their transformation. He created a fellowship which became all in all to them. For three years they heard his voice, watched his smile, learned from his unforgettable parables, saw his healing presence. And beyond the shock of his physical death, they learned to recognize his continuing presence. Mary Magdalene recognized the Christ; the two men who went to Emmaus finally recognized him; the apostles knew his presence several times -- not so much by the senses (the Bible says they were not allowed to touch him after the resurrection) as by the understanding.

They finally began to look for him at every turn of their living; to expect the presence and guidance of his holy spirit. And at length they were fully assured in the promise: “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.” [Matthew 28: 20]. They knew it was not only possible, but that it was real --- this companionship with Christ and with God.

But let us be honest; do we really want to find Him? There is a glorious promise, given in old prophetic time, that has not faded from the written record: “If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me.” [Deuteronomy 4: 29]. Here, perhaps, is a clue -- “If with all your heart.” Ask yourself: “Do I really seek God, or the risen Lord, with my whole heart?” Or do I really think, “I want God, and yet I don’t want to find Him just yet.” “I want to find Him, and yet I don’t want to find Him just yet.” Or.. “I would not want Him to find me just yet.” Am I seeking God with my whole heart -- with undivided sincerity?

There is still another side to the picture; are we honest enough to face it? There may be times when we want God to help us over some temporary discomfort. Leslie Weatherhead says that some of us “want God as we want a hot water bottle” for temporary comfort. Or perhaps we look for God as we might look for a kindly motorist who is willing to push our stalled auto into the next gas station. But God is not to be treated that way! He is not like the telephone operator who answers only when we feel like taking down the receiver! And he is not the automatic stoker, feeding the fuel into our furnace while we sleep or dine out.

We are guilty of some terrible presumptions! For God is all important, all in all! In ancient days people recognized this in their belief that anyone who touched the Ark of the Covenant was a dead man. No one went near the mountain where God was giving forth. A lot of us know moments of terrible conflict. We want God -- and we don’t want him. We want His way --- and we want our way. We pray “Thy will be done” but we mean may our will succeed. We want to be clean inside, and still harbor the attitudes and practice the acts that make us unclean. We want the Kingdom of heaven to come, but we vote against it.

We want to be Christian, but we don’t want our friends to think us queer. We may be against strong drink, but we want to be sociable. We long for purity, but we crave popularity.

Most of us want to play both sides. We are too familiar with this conflict. Our Lord, long ago, underlined our divided loyalties when he said, “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Many of us have settled down to compromise. We are willing to serve in Christ’s church, but we compromise on the number of services we will attend, for we will also serve the world. We support the church financially, but not as much as we might, for we also wish to support the things that are not of the church. We may argue for the positions of the church, and then insist on a right to live as we please, even if we please to live contrary to the beliefs that win our assent. Should we wonder if we do not have a real, thrilling, satisfying communion with God?

This is still true for you and me today: “If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me.” God is not hiding, though we may be! God is not pretending; Jesus went to the cross, by his own consent, to make this clear. But we often pretend. Let each of us look into his own heart and see.

It is possible for each one of us to live in this world sure that the Lord is with us -- just as sure as we can be of anything. When the aging Polycarp, of the early Christian group, faced martyrdom, he was to be burned at the stake. So life-long was his spiritual kinship with the Lord that he requested that his hands be not tied, promising to stay where he was put since he knew the Lord was, and would be, with him. It is possible for us to be as sure as Polycarp was, as Paul was. But we must be ready to pay the price -- to take on what the Lord requires of us; and to let go what must be relinquished for His sake. And we may ask: “Is it worth all that?” Well, isn’t it worth any price?

Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of a woman who was trying to find God. She dreamed, more than once, that she stood before a thick plate glass window. It seemed that God was on the other side. She tapped on the window to attract His attention, but without success. She rapped harder, became desperate, started to shout to Him until she was shrieking with all her voice. And then a quiet, calm voice at her side said: “Why are you making so much noise? There is nothing between us.”

Perhaps that illustrates our difficulty. We call upon God as though he was afar off, remote, or shut away from us. But we have only to listen to what He wants of us, right by our side. For God is as near as was the Christ beside those two walking toward Emmaus. He is an near as the crowds downtown, as near as the Bible on your table, as near as your own understanding.

Someone says, “O but there is no time” -- and there is so much to do. Well, is anything so important to do unless it be His will? Surely there is time to seek His will and way.

Someone, along in years, says, “I’ve been so busy, all my life, doing necessary things or work that seemed necessary, that I haven’t had time for Christ. And now it’s too late!” But no; it may be late, but not too late. For while life lasts at all, there is the time to seek His will.

You have come here today to worship. Worship with all your heart! Close your eyes, and close your attention to all else, while with all the faith you have you tell Him that you believe. Tell Him that you want Him to guide your life and keep it in his care. Let Him take control of your life completely.

And once you know yourself with God, and belonging to God, you need never argue about it again because it is your experience. The love of Jesus -- his loved ones knew. He can be as real to your life as he became to those two people who walked with him to Emmaus.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, April 1, 1951.

Also at Waioli Hui’ia Church, April 25, 1976.

The prayer below was used at the Waioli Hui’ia service, 4-25-76.

Eternal God, who without our asking it has set us in this strange scheme of circumstance; guide us in the same, we beseech Thee, that we do not fail ourselves, nor our fellows, nor Thee. Teach us to look upon our life as a high trust. Remind us of the great souls of the past through whom Thy light of understanding has shined gloriously to make all the earth more beautiful --- the saints, the apostles, the martyrs, the servants of the common good, given by Thee to all mankind. May we see them committing to our charge the stewardship of their high calling and reminding us that Life is a trust.

Teach us to see more vividly the faces of our friends, the loved ones in our families, who have cared for us more than for themselves, and all true spirits who have given us their affection and their confidence. Let them remind us that Life is a trust.

Make real to us the offerings and sacrifices of the past, wherein the world has been uplifted. And give us understanding appreciation of the simple, humble services that plain people have contributed to make the earth more decent for Thy human family. Let this recall to us the truth that Life is a trust.

Especially let us see today the saving, redeeming presence of Christ in his teaching, in his attitude, in his example, in the power of his spirit. Thanks be to Thee for him. For the loveliness of his childhood, the integrity of his youth, the grandeur of his life, the simple power of his word, the courage of his cross, the victory of his spirit; and for his undying, undefeated influence, thanks be to Thee! Let his voice say to us, in our time, that Life is a trust.

We pray for our families. Can any lovely thing come to our earth save it have behind it a lovely home? Art not Thou our Father, and we Thy sons and daughters, and brethren of each other by Thy providence? Since we understand Thee best in family terms, God keep us from despoiling our households. Let no misunderstandings take root among us. Let our homes grow beautiful, that in their beauty we may see the likeness of Thy Fatherhood and our sonship.

We pray for our nation and for our international life. So long tarries the vision of the Prince of Peace. O let goodwill come among us and all mankind. For all who pray, as we do, for peace and who work to build it, Thy guidance and blessing we pray. For those who struggle against bigotry, hatred, and violence in the relationships of mankind, we intercede. Let us see some triumphs of justice and the dawning of a better day.

We present to Thee our personal lives. Take our temptations, our anxieties, our bereavements, our gratitude, and our joys, and let some faith, some hope, some love come to every worshipper here.

Amen.